As we have grown more and more in love with the talent and skill Israeli designers of the bridal world have offered us, another collection of stunningly detailed wedding dresses has just come on the scene that simply blew us away. This time it’s from French-Israeli designer Liz Martinez, with her Fall/Winter 2015 collection entitled “Milan”. The entire collection adheres to the designer’s ethos of glamorous dresses with intricate details that transcend the fashion trends of our time. This rings true in every single wedding gown from her collection, from the playful skirts to plunging necklines and illusion lace, each dress is, in its own right, a timeless classic. Her signature style is distinctly sensual with flattering and dramatic lines cut along an elegant silhouette. As she says so herself, every design she creates is the quintessential expression of a woman’s inner beauty and seductive nature.
One of the biggest features in this collection was her injection of playfulness with her low cut back detail on the gowns. Liz Martinez knows exactly how to sculpt a draping back on a wedding gown in order to showcase a woman’s sensuality whilst keeping an air of seductive mystery and elegance. These backless gowns came with an elegant cathedral trail that began at the base of a slim-fitted silhouette skirt, and were often paired with a slit down the middle. The delicate yet perfectly framed show of skin both peeking through the slit of the skirt and the back of the dress gave her wedding gowns a balance of sensuality and grace. This balance was no coincidence, it was a design feat that Liz Martinez had crafted masterfully.
One of these such wedding dresses that was simply striking, for all the right reasons, was the Ela. It had a delicate sheath of chiffon trailing off each shoulder, which sat atop an illusion lace bodice. The delicate, translucent bodice then led into a full, flowing skirt, which trailed along and below a low cut back. This is the perfect example of Liz Martinez creating such masterful, balanced wedding dresses that their symmetry is almost lost in their detail. The ruffled chiffon on the shoulder and the fullness of the skirt balanced perfectly with the barely there bodice and dramatic sweeping back, making the entire wedding dress a feat of genius design and detail – both elegant and seductive.
Another feature we loved were her long and full length sleeves. We have to admit, we are always goners when we see a full length sleeved wedding dress, mainly due to the sense of drama and sophistication that comes with them. In Liz Martinez’s case, the full length sleeves were paired with trailing skirts and plunging necklines, the ultimate silhouette in drama and emphasis for a bride. Decorated in heavy, all embroidered lace, these wedding dresses are structured perfectly to flatter the female form and leave us in awe. One such dress was the Katrin, which was designed with full length sleeves and heavy, detailed lace embroidery. The draping neckline fell into a structured skirt with a running border down its middle, and allowed for a seductive cut out keyhole back. The use of such heavy, all over material with just the slightest show of skin on the back made for a perfectly balanced wedding gown that was both alluring and refined at once.
A slightly different style than what were used to but pleasantly surprised to see in Liz Martinez's collection was her shorter, A-line skirt gown. Of course, it would not be in this collection if it did not have her signature touch of emphasis and drama, which was exactly what the dress embodied. It features a modest, flowing short skirt that was paired with a glittering, long sleeved bodice in sheer chiffon with waterfall encrusted patterns of sequins, and an elongated keyhole neckline at the front. The glamour of the bodice complimented the short simplicity of the skirt and vice versa, making this wedding dress an instant classic.
Another dress in her collection that we were simply in love with was her mermaid skirt gown, full of excitement and glamour. This was the Victoria dress, which in our opinion combined all of her best elements as a designer. It had a delicate, lace covered sweetheart neckline bodice that led into a sheer covering of fabric after the waist, until it reached the knee, where its mermaid skirt began. The mermaid skirt erupted into ruffles of heavy chiffon in an off-white nude until it reached the feet, turning into the same light, transparent fabric as above, fashioning itself into a finishing trail. The entire linear transformation of the gown from white to off white and sheer to full fabric made it instantly noticeable. The delicate placement of each different style and fabric worked perfectly in harmony with each other. The silhouette was flattering and it had space between the details, allowing the dress not to encompass the bride but merely flatter and enhance her frame and shape. This wedding dress, with all its detail and glamour, was the jewel in crown that was the 2015 collection by Liz Martinez. Her wedding dresses are full of quiet seduction and modern day drama and sophistication, the go to designer for any brave and daring bride to be.
- Roisin Curran
Image Credits: Fall 2015 collection 'Milan': Liz Martinez